Welcoming our visiting choirs to the 370th Festival

One of the oldest choral music events in the world, bringing together three exceptional cathedral choirs, the Festival Service at St Paul's Cathedral is an afternoon of thanksgiving for the ministry of our clergy. The Lord Bishop of Chelmsford, The Rt Revd Dr Guli Francis-Dehqani will preach.

Our Festival is our biggest fundraising event of the year. A cash collection will be taken, and Contactless Donation Points will be beside those of St Paul's at the Cathedral doors.

We are delighted to introduce you to this year's choirs, joining us for what promises to be a majestic act of worship.

Bradford Cathedral Choir

Bradford Cathedral Choir have been part of the city's choral community since well before St Peter's Church became Bradford Cathedral, over 100 years ago. There are two fully independent lines of boy and girl choristers, drawn from schools throughout the region, and a number of teenage Junior Choral Scholars.

The choir sings regularly for five services a week, including compline on Thursday evenings, undertakes regular tours, gives concerts, and occasionally makes recordings and broadcasts. Further collaborations are planned for 2025, including with BBC television. The choir is led by their Organist and Director of Music, Graham Thorpe.

Several lines of young choristers standing and singing, dressed in red robes, and led by their Director of Music.

Several lines of young choristers standing and singing, dressed in white robes, and led by their Director of Music.

Lichfield Cathedral Choir

Made up of four discrete sections which form many different combinations - the Boy Choristers, the Girl Choristers, and the VI form Choral Scholars (all of whom attend the Cathedral School), and the Lay Vicars Choral - Lichfield Cathedral Choir is led by their Director of Music, Ben Lamb and the Assistant Director of Music, Martyn Rawles.

During school term time, the Choir usually sings seven services each week: Choral Compline on Monday, Choral Evensong Tuesday to Friday, and the Eucharist and Evensong on Sunday. The Choir also gives occasional concerts and recitals, and has made frequent broadcasts, both on television and radio.

The founding of the choir can be traced back to the early days of the current cathedral in the 13th century, and we're delighted that they're making the 120-mile journey to perform for us at our historic 370th Festival Service this year.

St Paul's Cathedral Choir

Bradford and Lichfield Cathedral Choirs will perform alongside St Paul's Cathedral Choir - who have leant us their time and talent every year for over three centuries - led by their Director of Music, Andrew Carwood MBE. Speaking on last year's Festival Service, Andrew said:

“It is a rare and wonderful joy to work with such incredible choirs each year, and even more so when you are part of an almost unbroken line of choirs singing together under the dome of St Paul’s stretching back over nearly 370 years.”

The choir have performed at some of the cathedral's most important services – including their Grenfell Tower Memorial Service and their Service of Prayer and Reflection for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

The Choir of St Paul's Cathedral mid-performance.

Join the Festival

The Festival Service is free to attend, and will take place at St Paul's Cathedral on Tuesday 13 May 2025, 5pm.

We welcome over 1,000 guests to the Festival each year - so there's plenty of room for everyone! However, while there may be tickets available on the day, we recommend that you book ahead in advance to avoid disappointment.

Book your tickets

NOTES FOR EDITORS

Photo credits: Bradford Cathedral Choir, Lichfield Cathedral Choir, Clergy Support Trust.

Clergy Support Trust is the largest and oldest charity focussed on the wellbeing of clergy and their families. In 2024, we supported almost 2,800 households, with more than £6m across over 6,700 grants. This is the highest annual number of people ever supported by the charity.

The Trust, originally founded in 1655, provides confidential help for Anglican clergy and their families across the UK, Ireland, Isle of Man, and Diocese in Europe. The Trust are independent, inclusive, and impartial, and we support clergy from training through to retirement.